New Tennent Field Hockey Coach Confident Despite Loss to CB East

The William Tennent Field Hockey team suffered its second consecutive loss Friday afternoon, falling 4-1 at home against Central Bucks East. Despite possessing the ball in the Patriots’ zone for a good amount of the game, the Panthers only managed to put in one goal in the defeat.

The loss dropped the Panthers to 4-2-1 on the season, good for fourth in the Suburban One National Conference. The Patriots improved to 5-4, moving into a tie for third in the Suburban One Continental Conference.

The Patriots opened up both the first and second halves with quick goals, and the Panthers—despite generating numerous offensive chances—couldn’t put enough balls home to bring themselves back in the game.

Already leading 1-0 to open the first half, the Patriots doubled their margin just nine minutes in, scoring on a quick transition after Tennent kept the ball in their zone for five minutes straight. Just five minutes later, CB East added yet another goal on a breakout from their own zone, padding their lead to 3-0 with 16:35 left in the first half.

Tennent’s persistence finally paid off ten minutes later, as they pushed through the Patriot defense for a goal of their own, cutting the deficit to 3-1 with a hard-working score.

The Panthers were looking to generate momentum, but the Patriots scored just four minutes into the second stanza, converting off of a penalty corner for a 4-1 lead. CB East tightened up its defense after that, holding on for the victory.

William Tennent Head Coach Kaitlyn Rauchut said she liked her team’s effort on the offensive zone in the game, but stressed the need for them to play better transition defense.

“Three goals were scored on one-on-one situations, and I think that’s where we broke down individually,” she said. “I encourage the girls to make sure they’re staying supportive emotionally and physically on the field at all times [and] to make sure all the girls know that, no matter what, if you get beat, you have to get back.”

Despite the two recent losses, Rauchut is still off to a good start in her first year at the helm of the varsity field hockey team. Promoted from the JV squad to replace former Head Coach Kate Wyatt, Rauchut returned to her roots to coach the team she once played for. A 2005 William Tennent graduate,

Rauchut played field hockey, basketball, and soccer during her four years as a Panther. After four years at St. Vincent’s College—where she also played field hockey and lacrosse—she returned home to Warminster, becoming a teacher in the Philadelphia School District as well as the JV field hockey coach at Tennent.

Rauchut was in for a tough task going into her first season, as the team lost 11 players from last year’s varsity squad to graduation. There were only four holdovers.

“It’s a very young team, but at the same time, as the years go on, the skill par is outstanding,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for the younger girls to get better, but at the same time say strong.”

The fact that she coached the JV team last year bodes well for Rauchut because she was already familiar with many of the players that were promoted to varsity this year.

“I think we’ve always been, from the varsity level to the JV level, a cohesive unit,” she said. “We’re always trying to not only make the JV players better to become varsity players, but at the same time keep the varsity level continuing to grow. I think the biggest thing is while still being a young team, I think if we stay focused and we stay optimistic, there’s no way we can go wrong.”

Going into the season, Rauchut said she did not have any specific goals in mind in terms of number of wins or points, but just wanted to see her squad continue to improve. “I told myself that for my first season I’d play it day by day, and from game to game I would make sure that we took the little things and we would grow,” she said. “Basically process before task.”

She also said she wanted to stress some of the simpler aspects of the game and make sure her team was working well as a unit. “[I wanted to work on] the little goals like technique [and] passing, while making sure that the girls are growing individually, so as a cohesive whole the girls can prosper together,” she said.

Even though the season is still young, she said her team has done “very well” so far in looking to achieve those goals. While disappointed by the recent losses, she said she knew her team would struggle some with some tougher opponents. She thinks the experience of playing some top SOL teams will help her squad in the long run.

While not necessarily offering any projections for the rest of the year, Rauchut said she is “optimistic” her team can earn a playoff spot this season. “Last year we got a playoff bid, and I would really like to get [one] this year,” she said. “I think the best thing is for us to just keep growing strong, playing game to game, and making sure that we grow.”

Rauchut also said she will be leaning heavily on the returning varsity players in order to help her team contend in the SOL- National.

As far as they players are concerned, they couldn’t have a better head coach to lead them this year. “Rauchut is very encouraging, and she always has positive feedback for us—but it’s still direction,” junior Johanna Simpson said. “She really knows what she’s talking about.”

The players also said Rauchut does an excellent job at getting the team motivated and prepared for every game. “[Rauchut] is so good at giving motivational speeches,” junior Tori Velaney said. “She gets you pumped for anything that’s coming your way. It’s amazing how good she is at it.”

Freshman Brianna Dougherty said she appreciates the way that Rauchut makes sure the squad’s younger players are kept up to speed. “Since it’s my first year, [I notice how] she’s always helping [the newer players] out,” she said. “She’s so positive with everything she does. She always has us working hard.”

While Rauchut and her players will certainly acknowledge that their team has room to grow, with the experience and enthusiasm Rauchut brings to her position, the Panthers may not be far from a quick rebound to the upper echelon of the SOL standings.